Control of Fall Armyworm in Whorl-Stage Sweet Corn Using Botanical Foliar Sprays, 1994

Abstract

Abstract Sweet corn was planted on 4 Aug at the Snyder Research and Extension Farm, Pittstown, NJ. Treatment plots were replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design and consisted of 5 rows, 27 ft long on 3 ft centers with 9 inches between plants. Buffers were 12 ft driveways, two additional rows between adjacent plots, and 3 ft between plots within rows. Standard cultural practices were used throughout the trial. Treatments were applied on 8 Aug, 6, 12, and 19 Sep with a CO2-pressurized single hollow-cone nozzle, hand-held sprayer that delivered 78.7 gal/acre at 60 psi in a 12 inch band over the row. Nozzle was held six inches from the top of the plants with the spray being directed to the interior area of the whorl. At the time of the first application, plants were approximately 4 inches high in the early whorl stage. During the test period FAW populations were heavy. Plots were evaluated on 22 Sep by examining 10 plants randomly harvested from the middle 20 ft of the middle 3 rows of each replicate. All FAW larvae in the whorl were identified and counted.